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United States Patent | 5,588,105 |
Foster ,   et al. | December 24, 1996 |
A status bar characterized by a template generated independently of an application program and displayed on a computer screen in contact with an application window. The template carries at least one active area that can include an icon for controlling the application program or an area which displays information generated by the application program. Alternatively, or additionally, the active area can include "global functions" of the computer system. A method for providing a status bar is characterized by the steps of creating a status bar template having at least one area to be activated, activating at least one area to create a status bar, and displaying the status bar on a computer screen in contact with an associated application window displayed on the computer screen. The step of creating a status bar template can include the steps of creating a plurality of status bar templates, one of which is chosen to be attached to a particular application window.
Inventors: | Foster; Gregg S. (Woodside, CA); Capps; Stephen P. (San Carlos, CA) |
Assignee: | Apple Computer, Inc. (Cupertino, CA) |
Appl. No.: | 393880 |
Filed: | February 24, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: | 715/779; 715/835; 715/840; 715/866 |
Intern'l Class: | G06F 003/14; G06F 003/033 |
Field of Search: | 395/155,157,159,156,158 345/119,120,146,902 |
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